Pressure controlled operating means



Oct. 24, 1950 4 E. E. HARPER 2,527,419

I PRESSURE; CONTROLLED OPERATING MEANS Original Filed Jan. 18, 1945 llllll l HTTORNE).

Patented Oct. 24, 1950 2,527,419 4 UNITED :EATENT' OFFICE Y "PRESSURE CONTROLLED-OPERATING Original application January 18,1945, Serial No. 573,415. Divided and this application January :18, 1945; SerialNo; 573,416

@- 2; Claims. (01;, 137-1 44) -The present invention relates to improvements ---in control mechanism; on, apparatus: adaptedi ior "1 theregulation or control ofithe operation oi. other mechanismor; operatingftmeans, such: asjtcgulatmechanisnras designed for the control and regulationof feedingmeans of a typesuitable forconstrolling the flow of liquid or gaseous, materials. In a-, certain copending application Ser. ,No.

5mgmeansrfon'thecontr values:.;and:the:like. ,5 573,415, filed January 18, 1945,. which matured A primaryrobject-nf the nvention 151.130: provide intorPatent-No. 2,469,230 on May 3, 1949,;and of ;an:accuraterandhighlyreensitiyetype.ofgcontrol which-this application-is a'division, I have illusrmeans in which the controkfunction .oriaction is trated -feeding:apparatus of'thischaracterparmade responsivei.:to:fluctuationsin.,-pressure.takticularly'designed for maintaining ,a uniform o'ing placeat .the-particulanpoint of regulation 'or .10 jgravimetric ,flow of liquidor gaseous materials, :,control, ornatxsoihe:othertseleoted-point withia andthe apparatus shown inthe accompanying view to maintaining botha substantially uniform rdrawing-is of the same character so -far as peras wellas mostaccurate; regulation of the device 'tainsrto the generic featuresjof the; control prinor mechan-ism toxwhich,sthe. control-operation is *ciple; but without limitation of the sametothe i being applied. --particular-gravimetric design of constructionspe- As ione practical"form c?construction for ac- 1 cificallyoutlined in saidapplication. tcomplishing' this result; I employ pressure-actu- Accordinglyftheapparatuses herein shown atedifloat members as-ielements of"-the control comprises a suitable; pipe or; tubingv It whereby "mechanism'with-a view to obtaining a=type=of opthe liquid or: gaseous material, whose flow lS'JtO :erating action which-is not only-of-a'highlysenbe controlled or-regulated, is conducted to adu- --sitive chara'cterbut which also-has the advantage *plex valve assembly-made up of two valves 1 5 and ofbeing fairly-positive in'its transmission ofthe lLarranged in series, (and each valve havinga corresponding control function to the parts subcontrol or regulating arm 1 20 andalso an:ad- "ject to such control action. "justable 'stop-screw' 22,-as well as compression In devising-typesetconstruction for ,carryi i spring 24 tending'normallyto closeithe valve to the invention into actual practice; one-preferred an extent limited by the adjustment of the correembodiment of the same comprises a duplex form spondingstop screw22. -of control mechanism-wherein, one control-func- From the valvel! the outlet is byway of-a tion is carried: out in a-manner supplementing "flow pipe 25 extending upwardly through a block another control-function:orioperation; and as any-.30 -or p1ate28 shown mounted at the top of a cabiincident 'tothis character of control operation, net I, and serving as the supporting baseofa one-"of said control functions is made responsive glass bell jar the lower edge of whichis seated to an independent automatic control mechanism in a fluid-tight relation within a groove or chanthrough the medium otfluid' pressure regulating nel 32 in said base, and-firmly secured in this "means and connections fortransmitting thenecrelation by means of a tie bar 33 clamped against essary contr'ol impulses for. such purpose. "the top of the jar'where the ends of said bar are The 'invention'further contemplates aformfof engaged by nuts, 34 at the upper ends of anchorv construction'in whichthe, operation may becaring-rods 35 which have their lower ends retained "'ried' out with either a single orduplex modeQof by nuts 36 engaging'the under face of said supcontrol operation. s porting base 28.

Withthe foregoing generalobjects-in-yiewaas The flow pipe '263terminates at the upper inwell as .Various other ,andminor objects orpurterior of the bell jar member 30, which also enfposes which will, appeariin' thecourse ofgthe declosesa transparent bell float member 40, which tailednspecification, the-invention -will. nowbe :in turn encloses vtheupper. open end of a vacuum ;'described by'. reference ,to ,fthe' i-laccompanying pipe, connection 42 carrying a disk element Mjdelldrawing illustrating.,one..;type.of, apparatus designed'ior guiding engagement with the interior signedlior practical operation in accordance-with of said bell member 40. the principles of ..the';,af,oresaid. improvements, ,The vacuum, pipe=i2 connects with a water jet after which those features andscombinations form, of eductoridevice' Behaving a water supply thereof deemed to be novel andpatentablewill-be connection .48, and valve, 49,, and also adischarge particularly. set forthzand claimed. outlet pipe 50. fornthe discharge of the outgoing In the drawing, the view.shownrepresents a .gasandwater. mixture. 7 schematic elevation illustrating a ,form -,of .conone: object inthe use-of such an ,eductor device r l pp ra s of a ype suitable for exempl yin in connectionrwith the discharge, is to -main-ta in the construction and operations or functionsenatpartial-vacuum or negativepressure condition tering into and comprising ithe'present: inven- ,in-thecarrying-out of theicontrol operation, asa tion. a safeguard against any leak in the system, which -.Referri ng nowto the drawingiin detaiLtheiim- "would result only in drawing-inair to be :mixed -provements forming thelsubject of.the presentinwith-ithe chlorine gas; :that is to say; any --leak ventionaresillustratedras;embodied',;ina control in, thevsystemiwould be inward ratherthan outward. While this might involve a possible reduction in the feeding rate of the gas, pendin repair of the leak, it would be preferable to an objectionable escape of the chlorine which might result from a reliance on a feeding pressure as;

maintained at the source of said gas supply.

The water supply pipe 48 is providedwith a,

branch connection 5| controlled by a, valve 52 and a float element 54 for supplying water to a constant level float box 56 having an overflow outlet 51, and into which float box or chamber:

vice 82, as explained in said application. Obviously the form and arrangement of control connections shown for varying said eductor operation is simply one form or example of means which may be employed by the present invenarranged as above described (which is fully ex- 56 a combination water supply and overflow connection 58 extends from the bell jar chamber and from within the lower portion of the float member 40. The" bell float member is provided with a wire harness structure 60, the ends of which are secured by a suitable link 62 at the top of said member and adapted to freely support the sameupon the upper end of said water supply and overflow pipe 58. To this harness structure 60 is attached a lifting wire 64, the lower end of which is attached to a, vacuum breaker cup 66 which encloses the lower end of the pipe 58, and the latter also carries a vent bell 68 which in turn encloses the cup 66'and" is provided with a safety vent outlet 10.

The valves I5 and I! are controlled by means of bell float members I2 and 14 respectively,

which are located in partly submerged relation in said float box or chamber 56.

the arm 20 of the valve I5 is provided with a link 16 connecting it with the float member I2, and the regulating arm of the valve I! is also provided with a link I! connecting it with an operating lever 18 fulcrumed at 19 and attached to the top of the other float member I4. The upper portion of the float member 12 is also provided with a flexible vacuum or fluid-pressure transmitting tube 80 which leadsto the upper interior portion of the bell jar chamber 30, as

shown. I

While the float bell member 12 and its connections provide a'valve control means responsive to changes in the vacuum or fluid pressure ac- .tion produced in the bell jar chamber 30, the

other float bell member forms part of an independent control mechanism operating in re- .sponse to differential pressure changes, and one form of such mechanism suitable for the purpose will now be described. A secondary Water jet or eductor device 82 is provided, having a pipe connection 84 with the water supply and also an overflow pipe connection 84 with the float box 56, and also a vacuum tube connection 85 leading to a control valve device 86 provided with a thin-edged valve seat defining an air inlet orifice 88 which is controlled by a rocker type of valve member 90 including an operating arm 9!, a construction which is in all essential respects similar to that illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 539,049, filed June 7, 1944, and which matured into Patent No. 2,459,700 on January 18, 1949. As shown .in the drawing, the tube 85 is provided with a branch 85 leading from the interior of the float bell I4, where it has an inlet orifice near the upper interior of said float member.

The arm 0! of the valvemember 90 isshown as engaged by a loop element or link II 4 suspended from a control arm I08 which may form part of a control system of the gravimetric type as illustrated in my aforesaid copending application, the control movements of which arm would thus be imparted to said valve 00 for correspondingly regulating the effective action of the educator operation as produced by the de- For this purpose i plained in the aforesaid application), the eductor device 46 produces a partial vacuum in the bell jar chamber 30, whereby a continuous flow of water is maintained, upward through the water connection 58 into said bell jar, the difference between the water levels in said jar and the float box 56 representing approximately the degree of vacuum which is maintained, and this being fairly constant during the normal feeding action when'once established. Since the influence of this vacuum is transmitted through the tubular connection to the float bell 12, this will result in filling both said float member and the connection 80 up to the same level as the bell jar, and consequently produce a suflicient pull on the arm 20 of the valve I5 to open said valve, thu opening the gas flow up to the valve I1. While the opening of the valve 49 starts th operation of both the eductor devices 46 and 82, the normal setting or adjustment of the valve 90 is such as to admit sufficient air through the pipe connection to prevent the development of a working vacuum in the bell float member 14 strong enough to operate the valve I! so long as the control member I08 is in a neutral condition, or requires no operation or regulation of the valve I'I. However, any movement of said control member I08, in response to control conditions, is transmitted through the connection II4 to the valve as, for example, a lowering of the valve arm 9| will result in a movement of the valve 90 into a more nearly closed condition. This will produce an air-choking effect on the pipe connections 85 and 85' leading to the eductor 82 and the float member I4, and consequently this permits the eductor action to build up a stronger vacuum action within said float member 14, with corresponding lowering movement of said member and hence a downward pulling action on the connection with the arm 20 of the valve I I, which is thereby operated into wider open position for allowing an increased flow of gas through the pipe 26 to the bell jar 30.

Thereafter, as the process continues, the operation of the valve I! will be automatically regulated, for controlling the gas flow, in exact aconly possible outlet, or by way of the said float member, which it enters by a bubbling action as it emerges inward past the lower margin of said member. This bubblin effect is plainly visible for distances upwards of fifty feet. From the interior of the float member 40 the gas is withdrawn of course by the eductor action by way of the ports 43 in the pipe 42 and, along with some flow of water from the bell jar chamber 30 as well as from the water supply 48, is discharged by said eductor action out through the pipe 50.

It will therefore be understood that, after the feeding operation has once been started, as above described, a uniform flow rate will be immediately thereafter established by the automatic operation of the control member I08 and valve device 86 and the float-actuated connections therefrom to the valve ll. This flow is readily observed by virtue of the bubbling action taking place in the float member 40, whereby the minutest fiow movements are indicated; and by suitable illumination this bubbling effect may be rendered distinctly visible for distances up to a hundred feet.

With reference to the provision of the duplex form of valve and valve-control mechanism for the flow pipe line 14, it may be pointed out that a very important safety function is served by this combination of valves. Where a valve, such as the valve I1, is subject to more or less continuous operation, the wear on the valve may eventually prevent its functioning to the extent of completely shutting off the flow; Whereas an auxiliary valve, such as the valve l5, which is normally in wide-open position, is subject to comparatively little wear, and hence can normally be depended upon to function satisfactorily as a positive shut-off valve, even after long use. Moreover, it is particularly-important in gravimetric operation to make proper provision for an effective and complete shut off of the gas fiow, especially in chlorine operations, and to do this automatically, as in the event of interruption of the water supply, or of failure of vacuum, etc.

Provision is also made for safeguarding against abnormal pressure conditions; for example, in case suflicient vacuum should be developed in the pipe 26 for raising the water level to an undue height in the bell jar chamber 30, the float member 40 will be lifted, thereby acting, through the wire connection 64, to lift the cup 66 somewhat above the water level in the float box 56, thus resulting in the effective height or column of liquid in the pipe 58 being decreased as the rim of said cup 66 rises above the surrounding liquid level, and thereby breaking the vacuum. Likewise, any excess of positive pressure in the bell jar chamber, due to valve leakage, would be at once vented out through the pipe 58 to the vent bell 68 and its outlet 10. Of course the possibility of any excess water pressure in said bell jar chamber is eliminated by virtue of the large overflow outlet provided by said pipe 58.

From the foregoing it will therefore be apparent that the primary purposes of the invention are accomplished as regards the novel construction and arrangement of means for effecting the desired automatic control functions, and that the control action which is developed by the improved construction is of a most sensitive character, due to the operation being in response to the most minute changes in differential pressure as transmitted to the float bell members 72 and M; and the operation of these float bell members is in turn instantaneous, as well as substantially positive in action, thereby insuring a high degree of smoothness and uniformity as well as accuracy in the carrying out of the required control operation and regulation of the valves or other devices subject to said control mechanism. At the same time it will-be obvious that the apparatus herein illustrated may be very materially modified in various respects to conform to varying requirements of local conditions. For example, while the drawing illustrates a control application in which a duplex form of control is carried out, with one control feature supplementing the other, a single type of control function may be preferred under some conditions, with the option of adopting the form of control carried out by either the float member 12 or the other float member 14.

Again, any desired type of control mechanism havin a suitable automatically operating control member equivalent in function to the member I08 herein illustrated may readily be assembled in appropriate operative relation to the control features of the present construction, for carrying out a corresponding control or regulating operation in response to the particular type of control means adopted.

I therefore desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly and properly be deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Pressure-controlled operating means comprising, in combination with means providing a flow passage, separate valves arranged in series for controlling the flow through said passage and having separate operating members, separate pressure-actuated means for regulating said operating members, separate vacuum producing means having separate fluid pressure control connections with said pressure-actuated means, and automatic means responsive to fluid pressure within one of the control connections and including means for modifying the fluid pressure transmitted through said one of the control connections.

2. Control mechanism comprising, in combination with means providing a flow passage, separate valves arranged in series for controlling the flow through said passage, separate pressureactuated means for regulating said valves, vacuum producin means communicating with said flow passage and have a fluid pressure control connection with one of said pressure-actuated means, separate vacuum producing means provided with a fluid pressure control connection with the other of said pressure-actuated means, and automatic means responsive to fluid pressure within the first mentioned control connection and including means for modifying the fluid pressure transmitted through said first mentioned control connection.

ELMER E. HARPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,593,543 Simpson July 20, 1926 2,196,999 Loughridge Apr. 16, 1940 2,205,678 Adams June 25, 1940 2,249,719 Brown July 15, 1941 2,274,266 Fairchild Feb. 24, 1942 2,309,228 Waterman Jan. 26, 1943 2,332,627 Erbguth Oct. 26, 1943 2,370,110 Spence Feb. 20, 1945 

